Apple iPad Air Apple 2022 iPad Air (10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 64GB) - Review

For $299, the renewed M1 iPad Air is a steal. You get pro-level features in the 94th percentile and 256GB of storage, but battery life is mediocre at the 48th percentile. It's the best tablet deal going if you're okay with a refurbished unit.

The 2022 iPad Air is a bit of a paradox. On paper, it's a tablet with an M1 chip, a killer 10.9-inch screen, and a design that scores in the 94th percentile for features. In practice, you're getting it for $299 as a renewed unit, which is a wild price for this hardware. It's a premium experience at a mid-range cost, but you need to know where the compromises are. Our data shows it's a top pick for students and creatives, scoring 67.2 and 65.1 out of 100 respectively, but it's a weaker choice for business use, landing in the 56th percentile for that category.

Let's talk about that M1 chip. It's the same silicon that powered high-end MacBooks, and in a tablet, it's overkill in the best way. Our benchmarks place its CPU performance in the 40th percentile against all tablets, which sounds low, but that's because it's being compared to newer M-series chips in the iPad Pro. For real-world tasks like note-taking, drawing, and media, it's blisteringly fast and feels effortless. The GPU sits at the 42nd percentile, which is more than enough for most games and creative apps. The real bottleneck, according to our data, is the RAM, which ranks in the 32nd percentile. You might see some app reloading if you push it with too many heavy apps at once, but for typical use, it's a non-issue.

Here's the headline: you're getting an M1 iPad with 256GB of storage for $299. That's the value play. A brand-new model with similar specs would cost more than double. You're trading a pristine, unopened box for significant savings, and for many, that's a fantastic deal. Just remember, you're buying the experience of 2022's premium mid-range tablet, not 2024's latest and greatest.

Stacked against the competition, the Air's value shines. The 11-inch iPad Pro with an M4 chip will smoke it in raw CPU and GPU scores, but you'll pay a premium for that power. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ offers a fantastic OLED screen and more RAM, but its app ecosystem for creatives isn't as polished. The Microsoft Surface Pro is a full Windows PC, making it better for business, but heavier and more expensive. The renewed iPad Air sits in a sweet spot: it's more capable than a base model iPad, almost as good as an iPad Pro for most tasks, and cheaper than both if you're okay with renewed.

Skip this if you need all-day battery life or are planning heavy, multi-app professional workflows. The battery ranks in the 48th percentile, so it's just average, and the RAM sits at the 32nd percentile, which can lead to app reloading under heavy loads. Also, if the idea of a renewed device with no warranty makes you nervous, just spend more for a new one with peace of mind.

If you can find a reputable seller for this renewed iPad Air, it's a no-brainer for students, casual creators, and anyone who wants a premium tablet experience without the premium price. The M1 chip is still a beast, the screen is great, and the accessory support is top-tier. Just go in with realistic expectations about battery life and the fact that it's a renewed unit. For $299, it's one of the best value-for-money plays in the tablet world right now.